Just moved to Switzerland

Just moved to Switzerland
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Shopping at the Helvetiaplatz farmers market in Zurich

by Larisa

One of my favorite ways to have quality time in Zürich is to stroll and shop at the Farmer’s market. I love the colors of the food and flower stalls, the sound of many conversations between shoppers and vendors, the fresh selection and wider choice than you’d find at the supermarket, and the luxury of taking the time to choose something healthy and natural for the table. 

August 15, 2018
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Living in Zürich

WHERE TO TRAVEL IN SWITZERLAND

How to explore the magical Blausee

Published by Larisa

Blausee (“Blue Lake”) is probably one of the most famous travel destinations in Switzerland.

June 26, 2018
Comment 1
Latest, Traveling Switzerland
Hiking along Walensee in Switzerland

Day trip hike around Walensee

Published by Larisa

Last Saturday we spontaneously decided to go to Walensee for the day. I actually want this on the record guys: a lot of my weekend or day trips in...

May 17, 2018
Comments 2
Latest, Traveling Switzerland
Hiking to Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli in Appenzell

Hiking in Appenzell

Published by Larisa

If you follow people who live in Switzerland through Instagram, you will without a doubt come across the classic picture of the Aescher Berggasthaus. Carved into the mountain, this...

October 12, 2017
Comments 2
Latest, Traveling Switzerland
Crystal blue waters of Lavertezzo, Ticino

Dreamy turquoise waters in Lavertezzo

Published by Larisa

This tiny little village in the Italian part of Switzerland has been my tiny little dream ever since I found out that I'll be moving to Zürich.

June 12, 2017
Comments 2
Latest, Traveling Switzerland

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MY EXPAT STORY

One year since moving to Zurich, Switzerland

One year in Switzerland

by Larisa

Looking back on 12 months full of ups and downs, adventures, and milestones in my new home. 

February 11, 2018
Comments 7
Expat life

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

One year since moving to Zurich, Switzerland
February 11, 2018

One year in Switzerland

Sitting near a fountain in Niederdorf, Zurich
July 3, 2017

6 months in: 6 things about Zürich

Sunset at Burkliplatz in Zurich
June 4, 2017

Five months in

View over St Peter Church, Zurich city
April 28, 2017

Four months in

April 8, 2017

Integration course with Stadt Zürich

Zurich Lake ferry in Switzerland
March 24, 2017

Three months in

Learning German in Zurich Switzerland
March 14, 2017

Finding a German course in Zürich

Swiss heart, view over Zurich
February 21, 2017

Two months in

A Swiss welcome in Zurich Switzerland
January 23, 2017

A Swiss welcome

postcard view of Zurich Switzerland
January 6, 2017

First day in Zurich

Instagram

After a week in New York, on arrival, Zürich felt quick (no lines), clean (almost shiny), and cool (air in NYC was still warm, muggy and thick day through night). I’ve been to New York before, each time while I lived in a different city (Montreal, 2010; Vancouver, 2012) and now six years later, coming back as a Zürich expat I saw the city with new eyes again. That’s the fun part of being an expat - you absorb from your surroundings and whether you realize it or not, get a new perspective. So to my “newly Swissed” eyes, the first most striking difference was how chatty people were - in elevators, at the pizza counter, in shops, on the streets, the subway (ex. I was reading the Crazy Rich Asians book on the way from the airport and the guy next to me started up a conversation about the movie that lasted all the way to Manhattan) - after living in Zürich, the North American in me got so used to polite but distant friendliness with strangers that the first few days I almost felt my space invaded by all this familiarity. The second was the neon lights of everything-open-everyday into the late hours. Without my local schedule of Saturdays are busy, Sundays are quiet, I was losing track of what day it was - felt like Friday always. Third - everyone spoke English around me all the time. I’m so used to speaking English on the tram in Zürich and thinking only a few people can really understand my quick chatter, or sitting in a restaurant and hearing conversation in Swiss German all around me and having NO clue, that it was a fun shock to the senses to realize I understand EVERYTHING, and, people understand me to the point that they jump into our conversation (ex. “oh you guys looking for that station, better go to the left, it’s faster”) 😅. In the end, I had an amazing time in New York and it was all the better because unlike in 2010 or 2012, when I was still in search for what would be “my” city to live in, this time I enjoyed it as someone who has a home base that feels good - so I absorbed all the culture and inspiration and after an action-packed week, happily got on the plane to fly back home to my little big Swiss city. Could not walk past this view tonight 🌙 #jmtszurichsunsets #shotoniphone A few facts about me 😊 1. I moved to Switzerland for love. We met in Paris during our studies and did long distance across 4 different countries until I made the crazy decision to move here without ever having been here before 🙋🏼‍♀️ 2. I first learned German as a kid when I visited Germany with my parents and again when I returned to Germany during my Bachelor degree as an exchange student. But since then and in between I was more actively learning French (because I lived in Quebec and later in Paris) so actually it wasn’t until I moved here that I took a German course and really forced myself to speak. I can understand 50-80% of what’s being said depending on the subject, but my grammar and vocabulary need serious work 🙈 3. A lot of my pictures are completely spontaneous and on the go, trying to capture moments as they happen, so everything you see, including photos of me, are shot on my iPhone 8 Plus 🤳🏼 Felt so good to be back in the mountains today 🙏🏼 #jmtsswissplaces Zurich streets are my catwalk 💙 tomorrow I get to go to my first fashion event in Switzerland with @pkz.women for their Fashion Night and I’m soo excited. We shot this look a few days ago when it was very fall-fresh outside and it was so fun to walk around in something light, bright but warm for fall. Plus doesn’t the city make a gorgeous backdrop? I nicknamed this outfit “the Zürich blue” and it will be fun to see it on the runway tomorrow. The show is all about the latest autumn trends so follow along in my Stories for the inside look! 😊 skirt, sweater and jacket by @samsoesamsoe #ad #samsoesamsoe #samsøesamsøe #pkzfashionnight #stylishwithpkz #pkzwomen September is here and a new week starts in Zürich ✨the summer heat and slow rhythm is gone, the air is fresher and the city picked up speed, like a back to school feeling of busy days ahead. I love fall in Zürich. Can’t wait to stroll the streets and photograph the romantic season 😊

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